North America's Unprecedented 'Hot Drought' Revealed in New Research
A recent study shows that Western North America has experienced an unprecedented 'hot drought' over the past century.
Amplification of Heat and Drought in Western North America
New research reveals that Western North America has been facing an unprecedented climate phenomenon known as 'hot drought'. This occurs when extreme heat and drought conditions coincide in the region. The study, published in Science Advances, shows that the frequency and severity of these 'hot droughts' in the last few decades have been unprecedented compared to the historical records of the past hundreds of years.
Using a new technique called blue light intensity, researchers were able to study tree rings to understand the climate patterns of the region. This technique provided a surrogate measure of ring density and allowed the reconstruction of temperature changes over time. By examining tree rings, the research team was able to predict the severity of drought index and investigate the relationship between summer temperature and soil moisture independently.
Impact of Increasing Heat and Dryness
Comparing data from the last 500 years, researchers found a significant increase in the association between hot drought and Western North America over the past century. The study showed a direct link between the rise in summer maximum temperatures and the decrease in summer soil moisture.
The findings also highlighted the impact of high temperatures on exacerbating soil moisture deficits and contributing to the frequency, intensity, and spatial extent of drought conditions. This has led to a rise in the occurrence of compound climate extremes, with warm and dry summers becoming more common across the region.
Anthropogenic Climate Change and Tree Ring Analysis
Dendrochronology, the scientific method of dating tree rings, has been used in the past to study changes in hydroclimate. However, the new blue light technology has made it easier to capture temperature signals from tree rings and study the effects of climate change.
The research findings suggest that anthropogenic climate change may be a driving factor in the increased occurrence of 'hot droughts' in Western North America. This study starts to explore the connection between human-induced climate change and the acceleration of these extreme weather phenomena.
